Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundationhttps://hcef.org
The Voice of the Holy Land ChristiansTue, 18 Dec 2018 13:33:16 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.1Letter of His Holiness Pope to the Christians in the Middle East.https://hcef.org/790812729-letter-of-his-holiness-pope-to-the-christians-in-the-middle-east/
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 13:33:16 +0000https://hcef.org/?p=790812729Letter of His Holiness Pope to the Christians in the Middle East Dear Brothers and Sisters, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction, with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God” (2 Cor 1:3-4).

When I thought of writing to you, our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East, these words of Saint Paul immediately came to mind. I write to you just before Christmas, knowing that for many of you the music of your Christmas hymns will also be accompanied by tears and sighs. Nonetheless, the birth of the Son of God in our human flesh is an indescribable mystery of consolation: “For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all people” (Tit 2:11).

Sadly, afflictions and tribulations have not been lacking, even more recently, in the Middle East. They have been aggravated in the past months because of the continuing hostilities in the region, but especially because of the work of a newer and disturbing terrorist organization, of previously unimaginable dimensions, which has perpetrated all kinds of abuses and inhuman acts. It has particularly affected a number of you, who have been brutally driven out of your native lands, where Christians have been present since apostolic times.

Nor, in writing to you, can I remain silent about the members of other religious and ethnic groups who are also experiencing persecution and the effects of these conflicts. Every day I follow the new reports of the enormous suffering endured by many people in the Middle East. I think in particular of the children, the young mothers, the elderly, the homeless and all refugees, the starving and those facing the prospect of a hard winter without an adequate shelter. This suffering cries out to God and it calls for our commitment to prayer and concrete efforts to help in any way possible. I want to express to all of you my personal closeness and solidarity, as well as that of the whole Church, and to offer you a word of consolation and hope.

Dear brothers and sisters who courageously bear witness to Jesus in the land blessed by the Lord, our consolation and our hope is Christ himself. I encourage you, then, to remain close to him, like branches on the vine, in the certainty that no tribulation, distress or persecution can separate us from him (cf. Rom 8:35). May the trials which you are presently enduring strengthen the faith and the fidelity of each and all of you!

I pray that you will be able to experience a fraternal communion modelled on that of the first community of Jerusalem. The unity willed by our Lord is more necessary than ever at these difficult times; it is a gift from God, who appeals to our freedom and awaits our response. May the word of God, the sacraments, prayer and fellowship nourish and continually renew your communities.

The situation in which are you living is a powerful summons to holiness of life, as saints and martyrs of every Christian community have attested. I think with affection and veneration of the pastors and faithful who have lately been killed, often merely for the fact that they were Christians. I think also of those who have been kidnapped, including several Orthodox bishops and priests of various rites. May they soon return, safe and sound, to their homes and communities! I ask God to grant that all this suffering united to the Lord’s cross will bring about much good for the Church and for all the peoples in the Middle East.

In the midst of hostility and conflicts, the communion which you experience in fraternity and simplicity is a sign of God’s Kingdom. I am gratified by the good relations and cooperation which exist between the patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches and those of the Orthodox Churches, and also between the faithful of the different Churches. The sufferings which Christians endure contribute immensely to the cause of unity. It is the ecumenism of blood, which demands a trusting abandonment to the working of the Holy Spirit.

May you always bear witness to Jesus amid your difficulties! Your very presence is precious for the Middle East. You are a small flock, but one with a great responsibility in the land where Christianity was born and first spread. You are like leaven in the dough. Even more than the many contributions which the Church makes in the areas of education, healthcare and social services, which are esteemed by all, the greatest source of enrichment in the region is the presence of Christians themselves, your presence. Thank you for your perseverance!

Your efforts to cooperate with people of other religions, with Jews and Muslims, is another sign of the Kingdom of God. The more difficult the situation, the more interreligious dialogue becomes necessary. There is no other way. Dialogue, grounded in an attitude of openness, in truth and love, is also the best antidote to the temptation to religious fundamentalism, which is a threat for followers of every religion. At the same time, dialogue is a service to justice and a necessary condition for the peace which all so ardently desire.

The majority of you live in environments which are predominantly Muslim. You can help your Muslim fellow citizens to present with discernment a more authentic image of Islam, as so many of them desire, reiterating that Islam is a religion of peace, one which is compatible with respect for human rights and favours peaceful coexistence on the part of all. This will prove beneficial for them and for all society. The tragic situation faced by our Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq, as well as by the Yazidi and members of other religious and ethnic communities, demands that all religious leaders clearly speak out to condemn these crimes unanimously and unambiguously, and to denounce the practice of invoking religion in order to justify them.

Dear brothers and sisters, almost all of you are native citizens of your respective countries, and as such you have the duty and the right to take full part in the life and progress of your nations. Within the region you are called to be artisans of peace, reconciliation and development, to promote dialogue, to build bridges in the spirit of the Beatitudes (cf. Mt 5:3:12), and to proclaim the Gospel of peace, in a spirit of ready cooperation with all national and international authorities.

In a special way I would like to express my esteem and gratitude to you, dear brother patriarchs, bishops, priests, and men and women religious, who accompany the journey of your communities with loving concern. How valuable is the presence and work of those completely consecrated to the Lord, serving him in their brothers and sisters, especially those in greatest need, and thus witnessing to his grandeur and his infinite love! How important is the presence of pastors in the midst of their flocks, especially in times of trouble!

To the young I send a paternal embrace. I pray for your faithfulness, your human and Christian development, and the attainment of your hopes and dreams. I repeat to you: “Do not be afraid or ashamed to be Christian. Your relationship with Jesus will help you to cooperate generously with your fellow citizens, whatever their religious affiliation” (Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, 63).

To the elderly I express my respect and esteem. You are the memory of your peoples. I pray that this memory will become a seed which can grow and benefit generations yet to come.

I wish to encourage all of you who work in the very important fields of charity and education. I admire the work you do, especially through Caritas and other Catholic charitable organizations in the different countries, in providing help to anyone who asks, without discrimination. Through this witness of charity you help support the life of society and you contribute to the peace for which the region hungers as if for bread. Education too is critical for the future of society. How important it is for promoting the culture of encounter, respect for the dignity of each person and the absolute value of every human being!

Dear brothers and sisters, even though you may not be numerous, you play a significant role in the Church and in the countries where you live. The entire Church is close to you and supports you, with immense respect and affection for your communities and your mission. We will continue to assist you with our prayers and with every other means at our disposal.

At the same time I continue to urge the international community to address your needs and those of other suffering minorities, above all by promoting peace through negotiation and diplomacy, for the sake of stemming and stopping as soon as possible the violence which has already caused so much harm. I once more condemn in the strongest possible terms the traffic of arms. Instead, what are needed are plans and initiatives for peace, so as to further a global solution to the region’s problems. How much longer must the Middle East suffer from the lack of peace? We must not resign ourselves to conflicts as if change were not possible! In the spirit of my pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the subsequent prayer meeting in the Vatican with the Israeli and Palestinian presidents, I encourage you to continue to pray for peace in the Middle East. May those forced to leave their lands be able to return and to live in dignity and security. May humanitarian aid increase and always have as its central concern the good of each individual and each country, respecting their identity and without any other agendas. May the entire Church and the international community become ever more conscious of the importance of your presence in the region.

Dear Christian brothers and sisters of the Middle East, you have an enormous responsibility and in meeting it you are not alone. That is why I wanted to write to you, to encourage you and to let you know how precious your presence and your mission are in the land which the Lord has blessed. Your witness means much to me! Thank you! I pray for you and your intentions every day. I thank you because I know that, amid your sufferings, you also pray for me and for my service to the Church. I do hope to have the chance to come to you in person and to visit and to comfort you. May the Virgin Mary, the All-Holy Mother of God and our Mother, accompany you and protect you always with her tender love. To all of you and your families I impart my Apostolic Blessing, and I pray that your celebration of Christmas will be filled with the love and peace of Christ our Saviour.

]]>ASIA/SYRIA – From pain to hope. The Christmas of the monastic community of Deir Mar Musa.https://hcef.org/790812724-asia-syria-from-pain-to-hope-the-christmas-of-the-monastic-community-of-deir-mar-musa/
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 13:23:55 +0000https://hcef.org/?p=790812724Nebek - Pain (alam) and hope (amal) are two words composed in Arabic "from identical letters but with a completely different meaning: two words however closely linked by a bond that manifests itself in a clear and tangible way in prayer and close to God". This is how the "Christmas letter" begins sent in these

]]>Nebek – Pain (alam) and hope (amal) are two words composed in Arabic “from identical letters but with a completely different meaning: two words however closely linked by a bond that manifests itself in a clear and tangible way in prayer and close to God”. This is how the “Christmas letter” begins sent in these days to friends, benefactors and acquaintances by the monks and nuns of Deir Mar Musa, the monastic community founded by the Roman Jesuit Paolo Dall’Oglio, who disappeared in Syria at the end of July 2013 while he was in Raqqa, at that time a stronghold of the jihadist groups at war with the governmental army of Assad. The letter begins with the reflections of Sister Houda Fadoul, current head of the community: Sister Houda recalls that “true spiritual consolations come to us from God in moments of prayer”, while the possibility of giving a Christian response when we ourselves are struck by pain can only flow from the imitation and companionship of Christ, when we “unite our sorrow with that of our beloved Jesus, offering it to God for a world of justice and peace”.

In their Christmas letter, the monks and nuns of Mar Mousa trace a brief account of the events and the works that have marked the life of each of them in recent times, in an ecclesial and social context defined as “complex and worrying”. In the long community epistle, it is said, among other things, that Father Jacques Murad, the monk kidnapped for some months in 2015 by the jihadists of the Islamic State (Daesh) – “celebrated Holy Week and Easter with Iraqi refugees in Turkey”. While friar Jens, in the monastery entrusted to the community in Sulaymaniyah, in Iraqi Kurdistan, “was able to finish the construction of two buildings adjacent to the church, housing the school of languages and professional formation Mali Dangakan (The House of Voices) in the first building, which attracts “an increasing number of people, because the study of languages (Arabic, Kurdish, English) helps to find a job and a future in the region”.
In that monastery – the monks of Deir Mar Musa say – “this year’s summer school distinguished itself from the previous because it attracted a large number of children in the region, Muslims and Christians, local citizens and refugees, Kurds, Arabs, Chaldeans and Syrians. For two months, the children experienced together the joy of learning, developing their artistic talents, taking trips and playing under the supervision of qualified teachers under the watchful eye of Father Jens”. Meanwhile, Sister Deema “spent most of the year in Mar Musa welcoming, listening and assisting guests, especially the young people who bear the pain of the situation in Syria in their hearts and the hope for a better future”. The letter also updates on the path of music schools and children’s kindergartens animated by the community, recalling that this year there are 150 children who “grow in our nursery school ‘Rawdat al-Qalamoun’. The works supported for the displaced persons of the Syrian city of Qaryatayn hosted in the villages of Zaydal and Fayrouzé are also mentioned: “There were marriages, children were born” the letter reads “and this fact testifies the desire of these families to stay in Syria: and it is precisely what we hope can be achieved, providing them with help in these years”.
The monks and nuns of Deir Mar Musa, in their Christmas letter, also refer to the story of Father Paolo Dall’Oglio: “The fate of our brother and founding father is still unknown. We multiply our ardent prayers to God for him and for the thousands of people missing due to the Syrian war, of whom families have no news. We have come to know with joy the ongoing doctorates on his theology of Islamic-Christian dialogue, so necessary for our world today”.

]]>ELCJHL 2018 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE.https://hcef.org/790812719-elcjhl-2018-christmas-message/
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 13:17:03 +0000https://hcef.org/?p=790812719Overwhelmed With Joy "When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy." ~ Matthew 2 Dear sisters

“When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went
the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the
child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed
with joy.” ~ Matthew 2

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
From Jerusalem, the Holy City, I wish you all a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! Wherever you are in the world, I pray you are gathering with friends, family, and your church community, to celebrate how God’s love for us became known through the birth of a baby in a city in Palestine called Bethlehem. As we gather for our Christmas celebrations here in Jordan and the Holy Land, we are also looking back at the past year. It has not been an easy year for us. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues, as does the Great March of Return. The United States has cut funding to critical programs for Palestinian refugees, and the US Embassy has now moved to Jerusalem, causing great concern for the future of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Jewish Nation- State Law, passed in July by the Israeli Knesset, has alienated Palestinian Christian and Muslim citizens of Israel, as well as the
Bedouin and Druze communities. We have traveled across this whole year and have arrived at Christmas, and we see that nothing has changed for us. Nothing is as we had hoped or expected. It can all feel a bit overwhelming. Do you suppose the Three Wise Men also felt overwhelmed? They must have been weary and frustrated when they arrived at the palace and didn’t find the king they werelooking for. After all, they had traveled a great distance, with high hopes and great expectations. And where else would one look for a king, other than a palace?
“When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, wentthe star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where thechild was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed
with joy.” ~ Matthew 2

But the newborn king wasn’t in the palace, and he wasn’t sitting on a throne. Both the Wise Men and Herod were confused. But the travelers didn’t stop there. They continued their journey, following the star until it stopped over the most unexpected place—a humble manger in the little town of Bethlehem.

It was there, kneeling down near the Baby Jesus, that the visitors from afar were indeed overwhelmed. But they were not overwhelmed with fear, with worry, or with exhaustion from the long journey. They were overwhelmed with joy!

Today, In the midst of so many difficult situations in our country—and around the world—we are grateful for the joy of Christmas. Christmas joy is not just about the lights and the trees, the food, and the gifts. Christmas joy comes from hearing again the Good News that God did not leave the world in darkness, bowed down under the weight of our sins, but has rescued us through the birth, the teachings, the death and the resurrection of one very special baby—Jesus, son of Mary and son of God.
As Bishop Peter Chrysologus wrote in the 5 th Century: “God saw the world falling to ruin because of fear, and immediately acted to call it back with love. God invited it by grace, preserved it by love, and embraced it with
compassion.”
For this reason, we are overwhelmed with joy to see Jesus in the manger, for it was in Bethlehem that our hope was born! The joy of Christmas joy embraces us and brings us peace during the chaos and drama of life—even in the midst of occupation, and even when surrounded by rumors of war. This Christmas joy renews our faith and hope that soon and very soon, all the people of the Holy Land will know liberation, dignity, and peace based on justice.
May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus this Christmas.

]]>Mr. Sami El-Yousef, CEO of Latin Patriarchate, sends message for Christmas 2018.https://hcef.org/790812708-mr-sami-el-yousef-ceo-of-latin-patriarchate-sends-message-for-christmas-2018/
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 10:45:35 +0000https://hcef.org/?p=790812708Dear Friends, Greetings from this most holy city Jerusalem! It has been fifteen months since I assumed my new calling at the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and what a journey it has been. Every day during that period has been a steep learning curve characterized by new discoveries. Though the challenges are great, the satisfaction

Greetings from this most holy city Jerusalem! It has been fifteen months since I assumed my new calling at the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and what a journey it has been. Every day during that period has been a steep learning curve characterized by new discoveries. Though the challenges are great, the satisfaction level has been greater. Never before in my professional career have I felt that my presence has been making a difference, though in many instances a small one like my work here. However, one must acknowledge that “the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step”. We have certainly taken those first baby steps and laid the foundations for the future stability, growth, and sustainability of the LPJ. From the boring administration side, it is important to mention that the financial and administrative restructuring is nearing its completion leading to more efficient operations set in high professional standards. However, the more exciting part is certainly the major accomplishments in the areas of education, humanitarian, and pastoral activities.

The educational pillar of the LPJ thrived during the year through the dedicated work of the 1,580 teachers and staff serving over 19,000 students in Jordan, Palestine, and Israel through 41 schools and 33 kindergartens. The LPJ schools cannot be compared with any other network of Christian schools as they are truly parish schools bringing life to our 55 parishes serving in the most economically challenged areas and truly catering to the poor, weak and marginalized. Tens of projects were implemented during the year including infrastructure development, program support, extracurricular activities, and green energy projects. Major expansions took place with the addition of three new kindergartens, one in Jaffa- Nazareth, one in Gaza, and the third in Hashimi.

The humanitarian aid pillar has witnessed a dramatic shift during the year. The four basic programs (social assistance; medicines; medical emergencies; and scholarship support) continued during the year serving hundreds of the most needy in our various communities. The institutional support provided through our various centers (Taybeh Elderly Home; Our Lady of Peace Center in Amman; The Anjara Home) to various marginalized groups continued with excellence. Again, hundreds benefited from the services of these centers. The support to refugees continued, especially to Iraqi refugees in Jordan. The support included not only financial support, but more importantly through the implementation of capacity building projects teaching refugees skills in sewing, pizza making, and cheese making to give them the tools to be self-sufficient, let alone supporting their children through education. In Gaza, the launching of a job creation project targeting Christian youth provided employment to 20 unemployed youth in this tiny strip which is on the verge of humanitarian collapse. One can only be very proud of all the dedicated staff who quietly and discreetly run these various humanitarian works to preserve the dignity of the beneficiaries.

The pastoral work pillar has also witnessed great work during the year, whether through the pastoral office with focus on the family and adult formation as well as targeted activities during Christmas and Easter; the Scout movement and its various activities; the youth chaplaincy including youth movement activities through Christ the King Bookstore in Beit Sahour and Shabibe Store in Amman; expanded activities, training and curriculum development through the Catechism office; organizing various spiritual retreats for staff, clergy, and deacons; as well as bible summer camps, bible competitions, Sunday school activities and the organization of various local pilgrimages to local holy sites. As for the St. James Vicariate, work through the various centers in Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem (Our Lady of Valor; St. Rachel’s Center; the Guardian Angel Day Care Center; and the St. Martha and Mary House) served with distinction thousands who are the growing faithful from around the world, who along with the indigenous Christians make up the complete picture in the Holy Land! The breadth of the pastoral work that goes on quietly day in and day out is mind boggling, and it would not have been possible without a true partnership and dedicated teamwork of a network of local and international staff and volunteers.

As we approach the end of the year, one is reminded of the true meaning of the birth of our Savior. As one reflects on the challenging political situation (American Embassy move to Jerusalem; the ugly Nation State Law in Israel; defunding UNRWA and USAID; continued blockade on Gaza and other moves) which may explode in the near future either on the Gaza border or the Lebanon border, we at the Latin Patriarchate must continue to focus on expanding our humanitarian and pastoral support to our communities and continue to improve the infrastructure of our institutions as well as build the human capacities so that our institutions will continue to be centers of excellence with quality services delivered with a Christian value set that we will all continue to be proud of. Our region has always been marred with conflict, and we need to put this aside and concentrate on building our communities in many dimensions, especially the spiritual one. It is only through strong faith will there be hope for our people to continue to call this Holy Land home. In this regard, we must extend our gratitude and appreciation to our generous donors around the world, but in a very specific way to the Grand Magisterium and the Order of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem for their generous moral and financial support without which our work would not be possible. May I take this opportunity extend to you and your families and friends a Merry Christmas with our best wishes for the New Year. May 2019 bring peace and justice to our troubled land. Keep us in your prayers.

]]>Persecuted Christians in Syria to Get New Hospital Wing.https://hcef.org/790812703-persecuted-christians-in-syria-to-get-new-hospital-wing/
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 10:40:15 +0000https://hcef.org/?p=790812703The new wing of a Catholic-funded hospital in war-torn Aleppo will open its doors to the public this month, part of an initiative by the Hungarian branch of the Order of Malta to help persecuted Christians and victims of the Syrian civil war. A photo exhibition detailing the devastation of the war and the charitable

]]>The new wing of a Catholic-funded hospital in war-torn Aleppo will open its doors to the public this month, part of an initiative by the Hungarian branch of the Order of Malta to help persecuted Christians and victims of the Syrian civil war.

A photo exhibition detailing the devastation of the war and the charitable responses to it is be held at Saint Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest from next Monday until February to promote this national campaign.

Related: Timeline of ISIS in Iraq
Related: Attacks on Assyrians in Syria By ISIS and Other Muslim Groups
It features never-before-seen images by Hungarian photojournalist Istvan Bielik and humanitarian specialist Daniel Solymári that shine a light on broken parts of the city, and how people there are rebuilding their lives.

Like the new hospital annex, this is the fruit of a collaborative partnership between the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta and the city’s Eastern Catholic Melkite monastic community.

The hospital is located in Al-Nayrab, in East Aleppo’s impoverished quarter. The Hungarian organization decided to expand the hospital building to double its capacity.

Both projects are part of the politically neutral relief organization’s mission to provide humanitarian and developmental assistance in Syria, where over 100,000 people still lack accessible medical services due to the conflict.

The Melkite community is thriving in this medieval walled city that once stood as a thriving metropolis but has since been reduced to rubble in much of its eastern side, a former rebel stronghold.

The community has enjoyed the support of Mother Agnes Mariam de la Croix, a Carmelite sister of Lebanese origin who rebuilt the ruins of the Mar Yakub monastery of St. James the Mutilated near Damascus in 1994.

It became her mission to develop the Melkite monastic community, whose spirituality is rooted in the Eastern tradition but also stresses a modern and inclusive mentality with a charitable apostolic mission.

The Hungarian branch of the Order of Malta has for decades been present with its relief programs in the Middle East and Africa. In 2016 it launched a large-scale medical relief program East Aleppo’s war-torn regions.

At present the only available services are those available at the mobile medical unit operated by the religious community of Mar Yakub and the Order of Malta serving the isolated villages around Aleppo.

This work is being performed by the humanitarian co-workers of the Syrian Mar Yakub religious community in close collaboration with Mother Agnes Mariam de la Croix.

Mother Agnes has been living with constant death threats and hasn’t been able to return to her monastery for four years now since she is a prime target of various terrorist groups. She has received numerous awards for her outstanding achievements. In 2014 she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

During Advent 2018, the Hungarian branch of the Order of Malta embarked on a campaign to afford a chance for all to share in prayer and spiritual solidarity for those who cannot take an active role in its humanitarian project.

]]>‘Mother Fortress’: documentary on courage of religious in Syria.https://hcef.org/790812701-mother-fortress-documentary-on-courage-of-religious-in-syria/
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 10:33:39 +0000https://hcef.org/?p=790812701The Vatican Film Library presents a documentary, directed by Maria Luisa Forenza and entitled "Mother Fortress", at the Tertio Millennio Film Fest taking place in Rome. "It's not a film about Syria's war but about the human condition in times of war." That's how Director Maria Luisa Forenza presents her latest documentary "Mother Fortress". The

]]>The Vatican Film Library presents a documentary, directed by Maria Luisa Forenza and entitled “Mother Fortress”, at the Tertio Millennio Film Fest taking place in Rome.

“It’s not a film about Syria’s war but about the human condition in times of war.” That’s how Director Maria Luisa Forenza presents her latest documentary “Mother Fortress”.

The Vatican Film Library – in conjunction with the Dicastery for Communication (Vatican News’ parent organization), the Pontifical Council for Culture, and the Office for Social Communications of the Italian Bishops’ Conference – showcased the documentary at the 22nd edition of the Tertio Millennio Film Fest held in Rome.

Rebirth of Syria

Near Syria’s border with Lebanon sits the Monastery of St. Jerome. Surrounded by Al-Qaeda and pockets of the so-called Islamic State, it stands out like water in the desert. Despite being the target of terrorist attacks in 2011, St. Jerome’s Monastery welcomes orphans, widows, and refugees, and organizes convoys of ambulances and trucks carrying humanitarian aid.

Mother Agnes, the Abbess, heads up the Monastery, with the help of men and women religious from Lebanon, France, Belgium, Portugal, Chile, Venezuela, and the US state of Colorado.

A story about humanity

Maria Luisa Forenza says her documentary tells of the resilience, vitality, and love for life she discovered among the Syrian people. “Syrians and those who are assisting them carry within themselves a sense of hope, despite facing a true humanitarian disaster in a country where people lack food, housing, and work,” she told Vatican News in an interview.

She says “Mother Fortress” recalls the Monastery’s history, which was an ancient Roman fortress that became a monastery before being destroyed by the Ottomans in 720, who killed 100 monks. In 1993, the Bishop of Homs entrusted Mother Agnes with rekindling the flames of monastic life from the ruins. “Fortress”, Forenza explains, also tells of the strength and courage of the monks and nuns who resisted the throes of Syria’s 7-year war.

]]>Fr. Mario: “Gaza’s Christians should not require permits to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem”.https://hcef.org/790812696-fr-mario-gazas-christians-should-not-require-permits-to-celebrate-christmas-in-bethlehem/
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 10:28:30 +0000https://hcef.org/?p=790812696GAZA – Every year during the Christmas season, Bethlehem becomes the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Christians from all over the world to celebrate the nativity of the Savior. For Gaza’s Christian community, celebrating Christmas and visiting family where Jesus was born is a privilege which half of them do not have. On November 27, and

]]>GAZA – Every year during the Christmas season, Bethlehem becomes the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Christians from all over the world to celebrate the nativity of the Savior. For Gaza’s Christian community, celebrating Christmas and visiting family where Jesus was born is a privilege which half of them do not have.

On November 27, and for the Christmas celebrations, the Israeli military authorities approved 500 permits for Palestinian Christians of Gaza to have access to East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

“Last year, 300 permits were given to the Christians in Gaza to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem, but only to people over the age of 55,” said Fr. Mario da Silva, Parish priest of Gaza. “This year, 500 permits were approved by Israel. But until this moment, we have only received around 250 permits for people over the age of 55 and between the ages of 16 and 35. However, children under the age of 16 were not included.”

Fr. Mario said that “Israel is using a policy of separation between parents and children. It would give a permit to the father but deprive the mother and the children of the same document. Thus, the family decides not to go and stay together in Gaza.”

For Palestinian Christians of Gaza, obtaining a permit to celebrate Christmas and Easter in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, presents an opportunity to escape their horrific reality; an act that Israel fears and rejects by placing more restrictions on their travel.

A privilege or a natural right?

According to the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, there had been 3.8 million tourist entries that were recorded in Israel from January to November of 2018. In November 2018, there had been approximately 389,000 tourist entries, a 35% increase compared to November 2016. The entries are expected to hit 4 million by the end of the year.

While these tourists, mostly Christians, enjoy and make pilgrimages to religious shrines in the Holy Land as their integral human right to freedom of religion, indigenous Palestinians are still slapped with restrictive privileges in the form of military permits to do the same.

“Gaza’s Christians should not require permits to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem,” said Fr. Mario. “It is their right to travel and pray without restrictions!”

There are about 1,100 Palestinian Christians among a population of roughly two million living in the Gaza Strip. Their movement to and from Israel, the West Bank or abroad are governed by a military permit regime, founded by Israel in 1991 to “control the civil affairs of Palestinians including travel, work, and healthcare capacities,” and was further complicated by the construction of the Separation Wall and the setting up of military checkpoints.

]]>Caritas Jerusalem holds children’s concert in Bethlehem.https://hcef.org/790812682-caritas-jerusalem-holds-childrens-concert-in-bethlehem/
Fri, 14 Dec 2018 18:20:39 +0000https://hcef.org/?p=790812682Caritas Jerusalem has organized a Children’s Concert at the Russian Cultural Center in Bethlehem in cooperation with Bethlehem Music Center. The concert is part of a two-year project that aims to support five schools and societies by providing good care and education to children who need special education. The project’s goal is to teach and

]]>Caritas Jerusalem has organized a Children’s Concert at the Russian Cultural Center in Bethlehem in cooperation with Bethlehem Music Center.

The concert is part of a two-year project that aims to support five schools and societies by providing good care and education to children who need special education. The project’s goal is to teach and train children with disabilities music and songs.
The project is co-funded by the Polish development cooperation program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.

The concert was organized by Caritas Jerusalem in cooperation with Caritas Poland. Children with disabilities in addition to students from the Bethlehem Academy for Music participated in the concert.

Representatives from Caritas Jerusalem, Embassy of Poland, Governorate of Bethlehem, and directors of centers and parents and the general public attended this unique concert which united and integrated children with disabilities and regular students from schools.
Dr. Sulaiman AlLousy, the director of Bethlehem Academy for Music, welcomed and thanked everyone for their cooperation and intensive efforts to make a success of this wonderful concert, which is part of the project that aims to support people with disabilities.

Mr. Harout Bedrossian, the Caritas Jerusalem communication officer, mentioned the progress achieved so far in working towards the improvement of the Rights of People with Disabilities and the achievements of the previous four years of work that was accomplished in partnership with Caritas Poland.

Mr. Nicolas Atallah, Caritas Jerusalem project coordinator, said that one of the core values of Caritas Jerusalem is to cater PWDs and this concert is the fruit of two years of hard work in cooperation with the centers that take care of various forms of disabilities.
Sister Lara Hijazeen the director of Effitah, school for children with hearing impairment has expressed her gratitude towards Caritas Jerusalem and the Polish government that helped the children to gain self-confidence and prove that they are able to learn and develop their skills and abilities.

The director of Al Shorouq school for the Blind, Ms. Ruba Abu-Irdeneh, expressed her great admiration of the concert and said that events like this sheds light on the capabilities of children with disabilities. She stressed the need of social inclusion for children with disabilities and their right to education like all other children.
The parents were very proud of their children who performed on stage. The project raised their awareness toward their children’s skills and capabilities.

]]>International appeal launched for Christians in the Middle East.https://hcef.org/790812677-international-appeal-launched-for-christians-in-the-middle-east/
Fri, 14 Dec 2018 18:17:45 +0000https://hcef.org/?p=790812677Church representatives, Muslim leaders and parliamentarians call for an end to violence against minorities Chaldean Mass at Saint Eddie Church in Mosul, Iraq on Dec. 7, 2018. (Photo by Ammar Salih/EPA/MaxPPP) Religious leaders took over from politicians in the meeting chamber of the Ile de France Regional Council in Paris early on the morning of Dec. 11.

A total of 20 Christian and Muslim religious dignitaries – along with several political representatives, magistrates and NGO leaders – had arrived to take part in a Paris International Conference organized by the Coordination of Christians of the Orient in Danger (CHREDO).

“(This day) is a significant moment, a turning point in the solidarity between religions and our determination to combat extremists,” emphasized CHREDO president, Patrick Karam, in his opening address, highlighting the “unprecedented” nature of such an interreligious meeting in Europe.

“This is the first time that Christian and Muslim religious have come together to unambiguously condemn the terrorist actions of organizations such as ISIS as contrary to Islam and as crimes against humanity,” he explained, pointing to the “haemorrhage phenomenon” affecting the Christian populations of the Near and Middle East.

Political ambitions

Backed by Valérie Pécresse, president of the Ile de France Regional Council and a former co-president of the Study Group on Oriental Christians in the French National Assembly, the conference focused on linkages between the religious and political fields.

It had three objectives. The first was to demonstrate interreligious unity via a common declaration calling for “an end to violence perpetrated against Christians and other minorities, including Yezidis.”

The second was to have the offenses perpetrated against them recognized “by national and international legal authorities as crimes against humanity.”

The third objective was to reflect on the conditions necessary for refugees to return to their countries of origin.

Eastern religious leaders took turns to address the meeting throughout the morning.

“Religion never desires the death of human beings,” said Doctor Abdel Meneem Fouad, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Sciences at the University of Al Azhar. “We reject everything that ISIS has tried to build. True religion calls for peace and living together.”

“We need help in action not in words!” said Archbishop Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Mosul.

“We Christians of the East are suffering from marginalization,” he added. “This conference is important because it allows us to communicate our suffering to the world.”

Paris International Proclamation

In a highlight of the event, Karam read out the “Paris International Proclamation” condemning discrimination and violence against Christians and other minorities of the East, including Yezidis.

Dozens of religious leaders present helped rework and signed the final document.

“The signatories unambiguously affirm the inalienable right of Christians of the Orient as well as Yezidis and persecuted minorities, who represent the most ancient peoples of the region, to remain and live on their land in dignity and security without experiencing discrimination and to practice their faith in complete freedom. The future of the region depends on it,” the document stated.

Condemning all “past and future terrorist acts which constitute crimes against humanity” against minorities, the proclamation called on “the international community to avoid contributing to confusion between these terrorist groups and Islam.”

]]>Trump signs law to aid Christians in Iraq, Syria.https://hcef.org/790812671-trump-signs-law-to-aid-christians-in-iraq-syria/
Fri, 14 Dec 2018 15:50:22 +0000https://hcef.org/?p=790812671Washington D.C., Dec 11, 2018 - President Donald Trump signed into law Tuesday the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act, which seeks to ensure US aid reaches Christian and Yazidi genocide victims. The bill was passed unanimously in the House Nov. 27, and in the Senate Oct. 11. This bill was introduced by

]]>Washington D.C., Dec 11, 2018 – President Donald Trump signed into law Tuesday the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act, which seeks to ensure US aid reaches Christian and Yazidi genocide victims.

The bill was passed unanimously in the House Nov. 27, and in the Senate Oct. 11.

This bill was introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), and the lead Democratic sponsor was Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA). This was Smith’s second attempt at getting the bill signed into law, and altogether it took 17 months for this bill to be passed.

Trump was joined at the Dec. 11 signing by Vice President Mike Pence, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback, Ambassador to the Holy See Callista Gingrich, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus Carl Anderson, Smith, Eshoo, Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil, and many others.

Trump said it was a “great honor” to sign H.R. 390 into law, and remarked that his administration has had great success in fighting Islamic State. The group has lost nearly all of its territory since its peak in 2015.

“This bill continues my administration’s efforts to direct US assistance for persecuted communities including through faith-based programs,” he said.

The signing of the legislation is a symbol of the US speaking “with bold moral clarity and political unanimity,” Anderson said in a statement provided by the Knights of Columbus, which were heavily involved with the process of writing the bill and assisting the situation of Christians in the Middle East.

Since 2014, the Knights of Columbus have donated more than $20 million to help Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria with food, housing, and other needs. The Knights also spent $2 million to rebuild an Iraqi town that had been destroyed by Islamic State.

H.R. 390 provides funding to various entities, including faith-based and religious organizations, that are helping with recovery and stabilization efforts in Iraq and Syria in religious and ethnic minority communities, including Christians and Yazidis.

The bill also instructs the Trump administration to “assess and address the humanitarian vulnerabilities, needs, and triggers that might force these survivors to flee” the region and for the administration to identify signs of potential violent action against minority groups in the country.

Another part of the law encourages foreign governments to identify those who belong to Islamic State in security databases and security screenings to aid with their prosecution. The bill provides support for groups that are investigating members of Islamic State who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region.

Since Islamic State took control of the region, the country’s Christian population has dwindled to only a few thousand families. Many of these people fled to nearby Turkey and Lebanon out of concern for their safety. Although the situation has drastically improved since nearly all of Islamic State’s territory has been regained, Christians are reluctant to return to the region due to a lack of economic opportunities and continued concerns for safety.